Recorded presentation

Erika S. Trapl, BA¹, Elaine A. Borawski, PhD¹, Paul Stork, MBA², Natalie Colabianchi, PhD¹, and Loren D. Lovegreen, MA¹. (1) Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, Center for Health Promotion Research, 11430 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, 216-368-1617, est2@cwru.edu, (2) Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106

This presentation will provide a historical overview of school-based data collection methods utilized to gather sensitive information (e.g. sexual behavior, drug/alcohol use) from adolescents. The following five methods will be discussed: paper-pencil self-administered questionnaire; computer-assisted self-interviewing (CASI); audio-enhanced CASI (A-CASI); a personal digital assistant-based system (PDA); and the newly developed, audio-enhanced PDA (APDA). Each of the five modes of data collection will be discussed with regard to the impact it has on survey administration (e.g. time to completion), data quality (e.g. missingness of data, failed skip patterns, inconsistent responses), and perceptions of privacy and confidentiality. Additionally, the impact of survey environment (e.g. proximity to others, interruptions and distractions) and the cognitive burden imposed on students (e.g. assumptions regarding literacy, aversion to reading, ability to follow complex skip patterns) will be explored in relation to survey administration and data quality and how each of the five modes of data collection potentially moderate these effects. Examples of data quality and survey administration improvement drawn from the authors’ recent study utilizing a cutting-edge APDA data collection system to administer a baseline survey to 7th grade students enrolled in a school-based intervention will be discussed. From a logistical perspective, the APDA offers great promise to school-based researchers. Moreover, through this research we gain valuable information with regard to how adolescents with different cognitive and behavioral characteristics react to technology and its use in collecting self-reported data.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess five school-based data collection methods used with adolescents in the collection of sensitive information
• Discuss the impact of survey environment and cognitive burden on data collection
• Examine preliminary findings of the use of the APDA for data collection in an ongoing school-based intervention

Keywords: Adolescents, Data Collection

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation